Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-05-13

warm water, where John Mel scrubbed them
with SOAP and then transferred to the tin
bath, where Bessie rinsed them and then laid
chem on sheet in the sun to dry. The
morning was very pleasant, and John soon
came to the conclusion that there are
many more diSagreeabe occupations in
the world than the washing of ostrich
feathers with n lovely girl TO help you; for
there was no doubt but that she was lovely,
a very type of happy, healthy womanhood,
as she sat there opposite TO him on the little
stool, her sleeves rolled up almost to the
shoulder, showing a pair of arms that would
not have disgraced a statue of Venus, and
laughed and chatted away AS she washed the
feathers. Now, John Mel was not suscepti-
ole man; he had gone through the fire years
before and burned his fingers like many
another confdmg youngster; but, all the
same, he did wonder as he sat there and
watched this fair girl, who somehow reminded
him of Il rich rosebud bursting into bloom,
how long it would be possible to live in the
same house with her without falling under
the spell of her charm and beauty. And
chen he began to think of jess, and what
strange contrast the two were.
"Where is your sisters" he asked presently.
jess: Oh, | think that she has gone to
She Lion kloof, reading or sketching, | don't
know which. You see, in this establishment
I represent labor and jess represents intel
iect," and she nodded her head prettily ut
him, and added, "'Ihere is a mistake some
where; she got all the brains"
"Ah,' said John, quietly, and looking up at
her, 81 don't think that you are entitled to
complain of the way that nature has treated
you"
She blushed little, more at the tone of his
voice than the words, and went on hastily:
Jess is the dearest, best and clevorest woman
IN the whole world-there, believe that she
has only one fault and that is that she thinks
Too much about me. Uncle told me that he
had told you how we came here first when |
was years old We'll, | remember that
when we lost our way on the veldt that
night and it raned so and was so cold, jess
took Off her own shawl and wrapped it round
me over my own. Well it has been just like
that with her always. | am always to have
the shawl-everything is to give way to me.
But there. that is jess all over; she is very
cold cold as a stone | sometimes think but
when she does care for anybody il is enough
TO frightcu one. don't know great num-
Der of women, but somehow | don't think
Shat there can he many in the world like jess.
She is too good for this wild place, she ought
70 go away to England, write books and be-
come famous woman, only" she added, re
Tlectivelv, Il am afraid that Jess books
would all he sad onesn
just then Bessie stopped and suddenly
changed color, the bunch of lank, wet
feathers she held in her hand dropping from
It with little splash bacl; into the bath Fol
lowing her glance, John looked down the
avenue Of blue gum trees and perceived a big
man with broad hat and mounted on
splendid black horse, cantering leisurely to-
ward the house
"Who is that. Miss Crofty" be asked
at Is n man don't like" she said with
little stamp Of her foot. "IIs name is Frank
Muller, and he is half Boer and half an
Englishman, He is very rich and very
clever, and owns all the land round this place,
so uncle las to be civil to him, though he
does not like him either. / wonder what he
wants now
On came the horse, and John thought that
ITS rider was going to pass without seeing
them, when suddenly the movement of Bes-
sie's dress hetwc' the ''naatchc" trees caught
his eye, and be pulled up and looked round.
He was large and exceedingly handsome
man, apparently about 10 years old, with
clear cut features, cold, light blue eyes and n
remarkable golden beard that hung right
down oyer his chest For a Boer he was rather
smartly dressed, in English made tweed
clothes and tall riding boots
"Ah, Miss Bessie" he called ont in English,
there you are with your pretty arms all bare.
I'm i'll luck to come just in time to see them.
Shall | come and help you to wash the feath.
ers9 Only say the word now